NEWS HEADLINES

Keyshawn Whitehorse turned in a clutch ride in the championship round to win the J.W. Hart PBR Challenge Saturday at the Wise County Fairgrounds and earn a showdown with Sevendust.
With $50,000 on the line, the McCracken Springs, Utah cowboy could only stay on the formidable Sevendust 3.98 seconds. Only five riders have stayed on Sevendust for eight seconds in 59 attempts.
“He was strong and all there. He’s definitely a great bull,” Whitehorse said.
Whitehorse won the 15th annual event after being the only rider to hold on among the five who posted scores in the first round. Whitehorse held on for an 87.5 for the victory.
He earned a 85.5 in the first round on Pick Up Man.
“I take it day by day. It’s not always smooth,” Whitehorse said. “I grew up working hard for everything…that’s how I ride.”
Whitehorse is currently ranked 14th in the PBR world standings.
Koal Livingston turned in the ride of the night to win the first round. The Burleson cowboy earned an 89 atop Big City.
Valdiron de Oliveira scored an 87.5 in the first round. Fabiano Vieira earned an 84 and Silvano Alves 85.5.
Ely Sharkey of Ainsworth, Neb. won the Bullfighters Only competition with a 78.
Jared Byer, a dispatcher from Springfield, Mo., and CJ Randall, a U.S. Army veteran, rode in the PBR Challenge after training this week with Warriors and Rodeo.
Byer held on for 2.47 seconds before being bucked off.
“I didn’t do my job. I’ve rode better bulls,” Byer said.
Randall was thrown in 1.39 seconds.
“I wish I’d rode better,” he said. “It’s been an amazing week. I came here last year. I can say it’s one of my favorite weeks of the year. I met a lot of people and got to do new some things. I went to KC Jones’ and learned bulldogging.”
1,000 Miles Till Home presented Purple Heart recipient James Hilyard of Donna, Texas, with a ceremonial key to his home. The charity through a donation to the Military Warriors Support Foundation sponsored the Hilyard family for three years and provided financial mentorship to put them on the path to home ownership.
Hilyard was injured by a IED during a second deployment to Iraq in 2007.
“We’ve been in our home for three years and we get the deed now,” he said. “I can’t put into words how thankful I am. They saved us.”

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